Myanmar’s Agriculture Department is encouraging the country’s fresh fruit growers to become compliant with global safety standards in a bid to boost exports.

The department distributed good agricultural practice (GAP) applications to producers in the country’s key production regions, with over 110 growers having applied for certification to date.

“It (GAP certification) aims to ensure the export of quality fruit as well as fresh fruit for the Myanmar market,” an official from the department told the Nation. “The department will inspect soil and water at those sites. We will check the inclusion of the maximum chemical residues as well as the environmental damage.”

Applicants have predominantly been from mango, watermelon and muskmelon growers, who are currently targeting markets in China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. Exporters are also hoping to win access to the EU, according to the Nation.